The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 14 March 2019 – Don’t Give Up In The Face Of Suffering
TOPIC: Don’t Give Up In The Face Of Suffering
READ: Job 6:1-13 King James Version (KJV)
1 But Job answered and said,
2 Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.
8 Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
9 Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
10 Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
13 Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
THE MESSAGE:
In our text for today, Job spoke up to reply his friend Eliphaz, who had Judged and condemned him unreservedly. He described the pains he was passing through as heavier than the sand of the seas, if weighed. He saw his afflictions as arrows and poison from God. He thought God was instrumental to his suffering, not knowing the dialogue between God and the devil over his blamelessness. This situation pushed him to request that God should destroy him (v.9): He had lost every hope and prospect in life.
Have you ever experienced any situation that tried to make you think God does not exist, is not involved in your affairs and does not care? Then you can understand Job better. Brethren no matter how bad our life’s situation is, we must not give up. There is hope for the living. God’s silence is not His denial. He will come at his right time.
In our struggles, both small and large, let us trust God to be in control. He is a faithful God who will always keep His promises, with perseverance in prayer, we shall see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Prayer: May I see you, O Lord, always bearing my burden.
